Materiality and Atmosphere: Media and Environments (at AFVS)

What is the place of materiality in our visual age of changing materials and media? How do media mediate material relations? Can media be understood as environments? This seminar investigates a “material and environmental turn” in philosophy and visual culture, focusing on the atmosphere of visual arts, architecture and media. Topics include: the life of objects, the haptic and ambiance, vibrant materialisms, plant thinking, elemental philosophy and screen media, light and projection, and the immateriality of atmosphere.

Pre-requisite: A course in film or visual studies, art history, architecture studies or the equivalent course in cultural history or theory. This is an advanced seminar with pre-requisites. Preference for admission will be given to doctoral students in Film and Visual Studies. Students will be selected on the basis of an application posted on canvas and, if necessary, short interviews.

Jointly offered course: This course is jointly offered as AFVS 279. GSD students should enroll in the course via the GSD.